The tender beginnings of Dirk’s smile vanished. “Is that why you broke it off with me?”

“No. Oh god, no. I’m sorry, Dirk. It’s just not that simple.”

“Please! Stop telling me you’re sorry. We’re both sorry.” He flung a hand toward Maddy. “She’s sorry. Walter’s sorry. The whole fucking world is fucking sorry that we broke up. But that doesn’t change the fact that I feel like I’ve been hit by a fucking train, Adam. It doesn’t change the fact that my stomach is so twisted in knots that I can’t eat, I can barely swallow, and forget sleep…” He stopped, his whole body trembling.

Adam lifted a hand in Dirk’s direction and then let it fall, unwilling to touch him for fear if he did there’d be no going back. He’d just pull Dirk into his arms and never let him go again. “I’m so…”